A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics David Crystal

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application of the transformation is restricted by the subjacency principle
of bounding (sub-)theory, and its output is subject to a variety of filters,
principles, etc. stated by other (sub-)theories of GB. See also affect alpha.
movement (n.) (1) A term often used within the framework of transformational
grammar to refer to a basic kind of transformational operation. Movement
transformations have the effect of moving constituents (usually one at
a time) from one part of a phrase-marker to another (the ‘landing site’), as
in the formation of passive sentences. An alternative term is reordering or
permutation. In some approaches this notion is broken down into the more
basic operations of adjunction and deletion. Two main types of movement
rules have been used: WH-movement and NP-movement (as when such passive
sentences as The cup was put on the table are said to derive from – was put the
cup on the table by NP-movement of the cup). Other such rules have been
proposed from time to time, such as dative movement (to handle such alterations
as X gave Y to Z and X gave Z Y) and though movement (to handle such
sentences as good writer though she is . . . ); but the need for these has been
disputed. The possibility that all movement rules may be reflexes of a single,
universal rule (referred to as move alpha) has also now been proposed. In later
formulations, the category which has been moved leaves behind an empty node,
or trace: this approach is known as the ‘trace theory of movement rules’. A
moved constituent and its co-indexed trace form a movement chain. In the
minimalist programme, move is a basic operation which moves elements
about in the process of tree construction. Movement is constrained in various
ways. Only the shortest movements of an element are acceptable (shortest
move) into the nearest relevant position (the minimal link condition). Movements
should be delayed until absolutely necessary (procrastinate). And movements
must satisfy the requirements of the moved element (greed). In earlier formulations
of the programme, move existed alongside merge; later formulations regard
move as a subtype of merge. In this approach, move is called ‘internal merge’
and merge is called ‘external merge’.
(2) See hold (2).
mu (µ)
see mora
multidimensional scaling A statistical technique which has been applied in
psycholinguistics to quantify the meanings of related lexical items and
define the semantic space within which these items work. informants rate
numerically a set of items (e.g. kinship terms, colours) in terms of their mutual
similarity; the more similar the average ratings are, the closer these items are
placed in the hypothetical space. In this inductive manner, it is hoped to establish
classificatory criteria for lexical sets which might otherwise not emerge, and
to develop more illuminating models of semantic structure than are available
using conventional analytic techniques. The technique is also used in phonetics,
along with other statistical methods.
multilateral (adj.) A type of opposition recognized in Prague School phonology,
distinguished from bilateral. The opposition between English /t/ and /v/
is multilateral, because there are several possibilities of contrast involving